Benji Cachia '21 Recruiting Profile

I currently live in Malta and play for Sliema ASC at Under-20 level and also at senior team level. Sliema ASC is one of the most competitive teams in the Maltese Waterpolo League, the club boasting the most league trophies won  on the island. I am the captain of the Under-20 team and I also play regularly  with the first team all year round. During the summer, when our league is played, top class players usually come to Malta to make the league more competitive and also help to improve the technical level of local players especially the younger ones like myself. World class players like Valentino Gallo, Alexsander Ivovic, Slobodan Nikic, and top waterpolo players have all played in Malta when their National Team commitments allow it in summer. Last summer I was lucky enough to train everyday and play alongside Hungarian Olympic Gold Medalist Norbert Hosnyanski and Gavril Subotic.

On a national level, I form part of the  Maltese National team at U18 and U19 level. Last summer our under 18 National Team qualified for the European Championships held in Georgia and we managed to place 12^th amongst the best teams in the world. I am very pleased to say that I captained this team throughout the championship and also played an important role on both ends of the pitch but especially in defence....last man position being my natural position. Futhermore,  I was part of the Maltese Senior National Team for their preparation of the European Championships 2020 held in Budapest but was not part of the final squad that went to Budapest.

On a personal note, I have been scouted by Catania coach, Mr Beppe Dato, and also by Mr. Marko Jankovic who is currently the coach at Partizan. Unfortunatley, I had to refuse both offers because that would have meant interrupting my studies here in Malta at an important stage when I was preparing to sit for my A-level examinations. I have always given great importance to my academic progress alongside a solid  commitment to my waterpolo career.

  I have been practicing waterpolo since the age of 9 after  and I consider myself a good reader of the game, in attack and in defence but also a very good swimmer. My 100 metre sprint is 57 seconds and my 50 metre sprint is currently 26.5 seconds, due to my dedication and persistence I am utilized in every position depending on the need of the team and do not restrict myself to only one position in the pool.

As I mentioned earlier, I take large pride in my studies and always manage to find time to balance my studies and my waterpolo career. I have currently just finished my sixth form experience at De La Salle college in Malta, where I will be sitting for my A-levels in September as they have been postponed due to the Covid-19 situation. I also plan on sitting for my SAT exams as soon as possible and proceed with my studies in the US in September 2021.